The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-04-22

\
The Man as He Looks and Acts when De-
livering His Sermons his style is I'm
conventional, But Not Sensational Con-
gregatiOnal Singing Led by q Cornetist.
New YoRK, April 90 Whoever goes to
Talmage's Brooklyn Tabernacle as to
circus, expecting to be diverted by the an
tics of clown, is bound to be disap-
pointed. But the fact that anticipation
is not to be realized does not come to the
visitorat first. The platform is not fur
nished with any pulpit, and is broad like
stage. A table, two small stands and a
chair, not at all ecclesiastical in shape,
are placed at the back, and the floor is
covered with dark carpet. The bright
colored front of an enormous organ rises
at the rear like painted back drop of a
stage scene, and without key-boards in
the usual place. The organist sits in the
position of an orchestra leader, down be-
fore the platform, on the edge of which
rests his music rack. l found all these
things in perfect harmony with my pre-
conceived notions last Sunday morning
Nothing but foot-lights were lack
ing. Therefore, when Talmage sud
denly stepped out on the stage
through door, which had no APP
pearance of door, but was like the ia
miIiar secret panel of melodrama, and
the organ gave forth such tremulous
sound as is the accompaniment of the
theatrical nero's entrance, said to my
self, "Now wen get the sensational Tai
mage of the comic journals" The man
who thus strangely popped into view did
not go into contortions,. nor indulge in
any gymnastic exercises. He simply
took seat beside the table, without a
flip-fap, and began to turn the pages Of
a hymn book. did not at the moment
feel the disappointment, because my at
tention was drawn away by thunder of
melody from the organ. A man with
| cornet in one hand mounted pedestal
about foot lower than the edge of the
platform, and with the other hand de-
scribed a flourish in the air, like the con-
ductor of an oratorio chorus The
congregation stood up and sang
praise God, from whom all bless
ings flow" There was no choir.
Then Talmage arose and walked down
toward the place for the foot-lights. His
hands were clasped on level with his
lowest vest button, his head was inclined
| forward, and he took long strides, with
dragging feet, after the manner of ira
gedian. "Aha," l inwardly remarked,
now we're going to have some gro
tesqueness," and / leaned back in my seat
to be amused. But what followed was
only two-minute prayer, uttered rapidly
and without gesture. Then he read
chapter OF Scripture, interpolating ex-
planatory and deductory comments.
While reading he wore eyeglasses. and
while commenting he held them between
thumb and forefinger In personal APP
pearance he is not much handsomer
than the familiar caricatures, bat he has
none of their comical qualities. His
mouth, like his church, is bigger than
that of any other American clergyman.
Perhaps it has been stretched by loud
speaking, for he is compelled to use all
his voice in order to be heard all over the
house. His hair is straight and reaches
to his coat collar behind, but leaves him
bareheaded in front nearly to the crown.
His cheeks bear side-whiskers. The
whole face is mobile and expressive, but
the irregular features are by no means
grotesque. When he smiles you know
it, but the smile is not low comedians,
grin. There was nothing clerical or
careful in his dress. He wore black
frockcoat unbuttoned, and black vest
and trousers. They had the cut of
good business suit, and fitted his straight,
spare figure well. His shirt collar was
inconspicuously turned down, and his
necktie was black.
After expounding the chapter in rat
Ting way, he read hymn in the old
fashioned style repeating the number
and the first couplet-and sat down
There had been just dash enough in what
he did to keep up my hope for something
lively, possibly funny, when he got to
preaching. Again my eyes were drawn
to the cornet player, who stood up ON
his pedestal, placed a music-stand before
him, repeated the professional wave of
the hand, and blew melodious keynote.
The singing over, Talmage prayed once
more. This was formal petition for
considerable variety of blessings He
stood quietly, with his heels together, his
toes out one hand under his coat-tails,
the other on his breast, and his head
slightly tipped back. He prayed six
minutes.
AT twenty minutes past eleven o'clock
he came forward to deliver his sermon.
The delivery was plain and sensible My
last faint hope of diversion gradually
died out as listened. He was not even
awkward nor grotesquely demonstrative.
How many speakers could gracefully
occupy a platform without desk or
anything else to put their hands on?
Talmage did it, and his hands were never
for an instant in the way. His gestures
were at times vigorous, but were al
ways appropriate and spontaneous He
walked to and fro with unconventional
freedom, and once gave stamp for en-
phasis; but he did not dance about, nor
fling his arms, nor in any way make fiz-
zing fireworks of himself. His voice was
strong and loud, and he kept it at high
key, as the size of the auditorium re-
quired; but there was no perceptible
straining after effect He did not use so
much as a scrap of paper for reference,
except when he read extracts from printed
books. This discarding of notes indicated
very careful preparation and wonderful
memory for he WAS never hasifant HE